Remote control radio receiving system



Sept 12, 19330 15:1- AL REMOTE CONTROL RADIO RECEIVING SYSTEM 5%. MANSQNFiled May (51, 1930 INVENTOR RAY H. MANSON BY VlRGdL MGR/X AM X9 1" ATOR Y Patented Sept. 12, 1933 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTECONTROL RADIO RECEIVING SYSTEM Application May 31, 1930. Serial No.457,846

Claims.

has for its purpose a remote control unit which 10 can be readilyincorporated in or detached from combined radio receivers andphonographs. Another feature of the invention resides in the provisionof a visual indicator in each of the remote control stations whereby theoperator is visually informed when the radio receiver is tuned intoexact resonance with the signal or carrier wave of the broadcastingstation from which the desired program is to be received. A furtherfeature includes the provision of a silent key to be actuated by theoperator at the radio receiver in the absence of remote controlequipment and in the provision of means operated through the remotecontrol system whereby the loud speaker or loud speakers are disabledduring the tuning operation so that disturbing noises or mutilatedprograms from unwanted stations are not reproduced. A further feature ofthe invention includes the use of a combined volume control andswitching device manually operated 80 at the radio receiver or operatedthrough the remote control system which in addition to controlling thevolume of received radio programs, in accordance with certain adjustmentdisables the radio receiver and renders its audio portion operative inconnection with an electrical phonograph device.

The drawing diagrammatically represents the tuning means-of a radioreceiver, the volume control device therefor and a portion of anelectrical reproducing phonograph with the circuit arrangement forcontrolling the various devices from a remote station.

Within the dotted rectangle designated R there is represented certainmechanical equipment and a portion only of the circuits controlledthereby, of a radio receiver which may be of the type disclosed in thepatent to Virgil M. Graham relating to Radio receiving systems, No.1,851,387, granted March 29, 1932. It is believed unneces- 0 sary toreproduce the complete circuits of the radio receiver disclosed in thementioned application but it is suflicient to state that the output ofthe radio receiver therein shown as linked to the loud speaker LS by thetransformer 23,

will be linked by the transformer 5 of the present disclosure to a loudspeaker 6 which may be of the moving coil type. As herein represented,the loud speaker may be connected to the chassis of the radio receiverand the power supply equipment mounted thereon, through a plug and jackterminal including four sets of contacts.

It will be noted that there are other units indicated within theboundaries of the broken lines associated with the receiver chassis, andthat the circuits of these various units are completed among themselvesand to the receiver chassis through plug and jack contacts such as 8, 9,10, 11, 12, and 35. By this arrangement any unit,

of the system may readily be replaced without disturbing the remainingequipment. Also by this arrangement it is possible to equip a radioreceiver with remote control equipment with a minimum amount of laboreven after it has left the manufacturing plant.

As is well-known a radio receiver such as disclosed in the mentionedapplication is provided with a plurality of tuning condenser units (notshown) mounted on a common shaft which is selectively adjusted at theradio receiver. When the radio receiver is equipped for remote controloperation, this shaft indicated at 14, is connected by a gear reduction(not shown) to the shaft 15 of a shaded-pole, reversible, inductionmotor 16 of the type disclosed by Barrett. On the shaft 15 there aremounted two conducting segments 17 and 18 on the surface of which thereengage a series of brushes 37, 38, etc. which will further be referredto in the description of the operation of the system. It will be notedthat the armature 19 of the motor is slightly out of the field includingwindings 20 and 21 of the motor. However when the motor field isenergized, the armature 19 is drawn into the field and the extension 22of the shaft closes the springs 23 which disable or shunt the loudspeaker during the tuning operation so that disturbing noises are notheard at this time. The contacts 23 are in multiple with similarcontacts 24 in the receiver circuits which may be closed by a silent key25 mounted in the chassis of the receiver for a similar purpose. Alsothe key 25 when depressed, opens the contacts 26-26A in the operatingcircuits of the several motors so that the remote control system isrendered inoperative during the time that an operator at the radioreceiver chassis is manually adjusting the tuning thereof.

The radio receiver chassis is also provided with a volume controldevice, the adjusting shaft of which is indicated at 27. This volumecontrol device is more fully described in the patent to Paul Haas,relating to combined radio and phonograph reproducing systems, No.1,766,381, granted June 24, 1930. As shown in that patent the shaft suchas 27 of the volume control device is provided with a cam 28 which in acertain position actuates a phonograph switch which disables the radioreceiver and connects an electrical pickup of a phonograph to the audioportion of a radio receiver. The shaft 27 is connected by a suitablegear reduction to the shaft 29 of a second shaded-pole motor havingmount ed on its shaft a cam 30 similar to cam 28, which likewise closesthe power circuit to the electrical phonograph device when that deviceis selected for use. This electrical phonograph includes a turntablemotor 31 by which the turntable 32 may be rotated and further includesan electrical pickup leads 33 connected to an electrical pickup (notshown) which may be connected through the phonograph switch 80 to theaudio portion. of the radio receiver.

In this system, there are also provided one or more remote controlstations, only one of which indicated is within the broken linerectangle S, but it will be understood that other stations will havetheir outlet leads connected in multiple with the corresponding leads ofthe remote control station S.

If it is desired to operate the radio receiver in the absence of thementioned remote control system, an off-and-on switch 34 of the chassisis closed and the source of current from the commercial power system isconnected over conductors 34 through theplug and jack contacts 35 andsimilar plug and jack contacts 8 in the radio'receiver chassis, thencethrough the contacts 34' of the ofi-and-on switch to the transformer ofthe chassis so that the vacuum tubes of the receiver have theirelectrodes properly energized. The operator then depresses the silentkey '25 and adjusts the tuning shaft 14 of the tuning condensers untilthe desired station is reached whereupon the silent key is released andin the event that the volume is not at its proper level the operator mayrotate the shaft 27 of the volume control device until the desiredvolume level is obtained. If, however, the operator desires todiscontinue receiving radio programs and to reproduce phonographrecords, the off-and-on switch 36 is closed whereby the source ofcurrent over conductors 34 is extended through the plug and jack contact35, 8, and 11, contacts of the switch 36 to the turntable motor 31 ofthe phonograph which then begins to rotate the turntable 32. In order toconnect the electrical pickup leads 33 to the audio portion of thephonograph, the shaft 27 of the volume control device is rotated untilthe cam 28 is in the position herein shown.

If the radio receiver chassis is provided with remote control equipmentas shown in this diagram, the tuning condenser and the volume con troldevice may be selectively controlled from the remote control station S.It will be understood that the brushes 37, 38, 39, etc, which are fixedbrushes arranged to engage the rotating segments 17 and 13, may be setto correspond to these adjustments of the tuning condenser shaft 14wherein predetermined stations may be received and when thusset, thesebrushes are locked in position. It will also be noted that at the remotecontrol station there is a visual tuning meter 44 electrically connectedin series with a visual tuning meter 45, both of which meters operate inthe same manner as meter, 49, disclosed in the mentioned application ofGraham, to indicate when the receiver is tuned into resonance with adesired carrier wave. In the remote control station there is alsoprovided a series of independent contacts such as 46 which correspond tothe dial or indicator setting at the remote station necessary to receivea predetermined program whereas other terminals 47 connected in multipleare provided so that the system may be operated to hunt for a desiredstation. These contacts such as 46 and 47 are in the path of a rotatablyadjustable brush 48 wh ch may be adjusted to permit the selection of apredetermined station when it is in engagement with a contact such as 46or may permit the hunting operation when in engagement with one of thecontacts such as 47.

Let it be assumed that the listener desires a program selectable whenthe dial or other indicator (not shown) is moved to a position wherebrush 48 is brought'into engagement with the contact 50. As soon as thistakes place a circuit is completed for the motor 16 from the secondarywinding of the transformer 52, plug and jack contacts 12 the cut-offswitch contacts 26,. conductor 53, brush 48 now in engagement withcontact 50, conductor 54, brush 39 now in engagement with conductingsegment 17, brushes 55 also in engagement with the segment 17, the fieldwinding 20 of the motor, through the plug and jack contacts 12, to theother terminal oi the secondary winding of the transformer 52. Fieldwinding 20 is energized and draws the armature 19 into the field untilthe projection 22 on the shaft of the motor closes the contacts 23 whichdisable the loud speaker during the tuning operation. With the fieldwinding energized in the circuit just described the motor 16 rotates theconductor shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction until the brush 39 ispositioned in the non-conducting space between the conducting segments17 and 18. At this time the operating circuit of the motor 15 isinterrupted and the tuning condenser shaft 14 is positioned so that theradio receiver is tuned to receive a program associated with the contact50.

If the operator selects a station or program corresponding to thecontact 56 at the remote station, the brush 48 is moved into engagementwith this contact whereupon an operating circuit for the motor 16 is nowcompleted from the secondary winding of the transformer 52, plug andjack contacts 12, cutout switch contacts 26, conductor 53, brush 48,contact 56, conductor 57, brush 41, conducting segment 18, through oneof the pair of brushes 58, field winding 21 of the motor 16, plug andjack contacts 12 to the other terminal of the transformer. With the'field winding 21 energized, the armature 19 is drawn into the field,disabling the loud speakers as previously described and also causing themotor 16 to rotate the shaft 14 of the tuning condenser. In thisinstance the condenser shaft 14 is rotated in a clockwise directionuntil the brush 41 is positioned in the insulating space between theconducting segments 17 and 18. When this takes place, the motor ceasesto operate and the receiver is tuned to the program. associated with thecontact 56.

If, when the desired progress is received, it is not at the propervolume level, the volume may be increased by depressing the volume key59 or diminished by depressing the volume key 60.

Let it be assumed that the operator desires to diminish the volume hetherefore depresses the key 60. This closes a circuit from thetransformer 52, plug and jack contacts 12, cut-01f switch 6, conductor53, contacts of the volume key 60, conductor 61, limit switch contacts62, field winding 63 of the shaded-pole, reversible, induction motor,conductor 64, plug and jack contacts 12 to the other terminal of thesecondary winding of the transformer. Under the control of this circuit,the motor rotates the volume control until the desired volume isobtained. Similarly if it is desired to increase the volume, key 59 isdepressed and the field winding 66 of the motor 65 is energized torotate the volume control in a direction to increase the volume. It willbe noted that contacts 62 and 74 coopcrating with stop act as limitswitches to open the operating circuit of motor 65 when the volumecontrol device has been rotated to its extreme position in eitherdirection.

Provision is made in the present arrangement so that the operator mayhunt for stations or programs other than those obtainable by placing thebrush 48 in engagement with contacts such as 49, 50, and 56. When it isdesired to hunt for stations, a hunting operatiorr'commonly known in theart as DX, is used, the brush 48- is moved into engagement with some oneof the contacts such as 47 and then either the hunting key 67 or thehunting key 68 is depressed. Let it be assumed that the hunting key 68is depressed whereupon an operating circuit for the motor 16 iscompleted from the transformer 52, plug and jack contacts 12, cut-outswitch 26, conductor 53, brush 48, now in engagement with contact 47,contacts of the key 68, brushes,

55 in engagement with conducting segment 17, field winding 20 of themotor 16, plug and jack contacts 12 to the transformer 52. Under thecontrol of this circuit the motor rotates the condenser shaft 14 andconducting segments 17 and 18 until the operator releases the key 68 oruntil connection is broken between the brushes 55 by reason of the factthat the insulating break between the actuating segments 17 and 18 hasbeen positioned between the two brushes indicating that the tuningcondenser shaft has been moved to its extreme position in one directionof rotation. The operator may then depress the key 6'7 to rotate thetuning condenser shaft in the opposite direction. The operating circuitof the motor is similar to that previously de scribed except that thecircuit is now completed over conductor 70, brushes 58 in engagementwith conducting segment 18, field winding 21 of the motor 16 and thenceover the remainder of the circuit previously described. Under thecontrol of this circuit the tuningcondenser shaft is rotated iscounterclockwise direction until a desired program is selected.

. It will be noted that a visual tuning meter 44 is connected in serieswith the visual tuning meter 45 mounted in the receiver chassis and bynoting the maximum swing of the needle of the meter 44 the operatorreceives an indication that the receiver is tuned to resonance with adesired program. The tuning motor 16 responds very quickly andaccurately to the depression of the hunting keys 67 and 68 so that ifthe tuning condenser shaft is rotated slightly past the best setting forreceiving a certain station, the condenser shaft inay be rotated throughvery small increments of motion in either direction by momentarilytouching one or the other of these hunting keys. To turn 01! the radioreceiver from a remote point the brush 48 is moved to the off position71 which causes the tuning motor to rotate the tuning condenser shaftuntil the stop 72 opens the spring 73 which are connected in multiplewith the on-and-oii" switch 34 mounted in the radio receiver chassis.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto and an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver toany one of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuningunit, said motor having field generating means and an armature normallyout of a portion of said field, the development of said field serving todraw said armature therein, and means actuated by the movement of saidarmature into said field for disabling said loud speaker.

2. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto and an adjustable tuningunit for tuning said radio receiver toany one of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuningunit, said motor having a field winding and an armature normally outsideof a portion of the field developed thereby, the energizing of saidfield winding serving to draw said armature therein, and means actuatedby the axial movement of said armature into said field for disablingsaid loud speaker.

3. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuning unit,means within audible range of the loud speaker and responsive to programsignals received by said radio receiver for indicating when said radioreceiver is tuned into substantial resonance with a desired program, andmeans actuated during the operation of said motor for preventing thereproduction of programs through said loud speaker.

4. In combination with a radio receiver having a loudspeaker connectedthereto, and adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver toany one of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuningunit, preselecting means at a remote point for directively controllingthe operation of said motor to effect a desired adjustment of saidtuning unit, means associated with said preselecting means withinaudible range of the loud speaker and responsive to program signalsreceived by said radio receiver for indicating when said radio receiveris tuned into substantial resonance with a preselected program, andmeans actuated during the adjustment of said tuning unit for preventingthe reproduction of programs through said loud speaker.

5. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuning unit,preselecting means at a remote point for directively controlling theoperation of said motor to eifect a desired adjustment of said tuningunit, visual means associated with said preselecting means withinaudible range of the loud speaker and responsive to program signalsreceived by said radio receiver for indicating when said radio receiveris tuned into substantial resonance with a preselected program, andmeans actuated during the adjustment of said tuning unit for preventingthe reproduction of programs through said loud speaker.

6. In'combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuning unit,and preselecting means for controlling the operation of said motor, saidpreselecting means including an indicator giving an approximateindication of the tuning of said radio receiver, and an electrical meterconnected in circuit with said radio receiver for indicating when saidradio receiver is tuned approximately into resonance with a desiredsignal.

7. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuningdevice, means for causing said motor to effect a hunting adjustment ofsaid tun-= ing unit, means actuated during said tuning operation forpreventing the reproduction of programs through said loud speaker, andan indicator within audible range of said loud speaker and responsive tosignals received by said radio receiver for showing when the tuning unithas tuned said radio receiver into substantial resonance with desiredsignals.

8. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuningdevice, means causing said mo tor to effect a hunting adjustment of saidtuning unit, means actuated during said tuning operation for preventingthe reproduction of programs through said loud speaker, and anelectrical meter within audible range of said loud speaker andresponsive to signals received by said radio receiver for visuallyindicating when said tuning unit has tuned said radio receiver intoresonance with desired signals.

9. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor for actuating said tuning unit,means at a remote point for controlling said motor to adjust said tuningunit for tuning said radio receiver to receive a predetermined program,said means also controlling said motor to adjust said tuning unit foreffecting a program hunting operation of said radio receiver, anindicator associated with said means responsive to program signalsreceived by said radio receiver for indicating when said radio receiveris tuned into substantial resonance with any of said programs, and meansactuated during the adjustment of said tuning unit for preventing thereproduction of programs through said loud speaker. 95

10. In combination with a radio receiver having a loud speaker connectedthereto, an adjustable tuning unit for tuning said radio receiver to anyone of a plurality of programs, a motor controlled from a remote pointto efiect a desired 0 adjustment of said tuning unit, a volume controldevice for controlling the volume of signal reproduced by said loudspeaker, a motor directively controlled from a remote point foradjusting said volume control device, a phonograph 105 provided with aturntable motor, and means actuated in a predetermined position of thevolume control device for energizing said turntable motor and fordisabling at least a portion of said radio receiver.

RAY H. MANSON. VIRGIL M. GRAHAM.

